Pill or capsule dispenser: sure daily reminder

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for pills and/or capsules adapted to cooperate with a container having pills and/or capsules therein. First and second horizontal disc like members detachably engage each other and support the container in a vertical position as it extends through central openings in both members. The members each have two concentric annular sectors having respective lower and upper mating recesses which together define enclosed chambers for detachably receiving pills and/or capsules.

United States Patent Dangles et a1.

[ 51 Oct. 24, 1972 154] PILL OR CAPSULE DISPENSER: SURE DAILY REMINDER [21] Appl. No.: 164,281

[52] US. Cl ..206/42, 116/121 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 83/04 [58] Field of Search.....206/42, 56 A; 221/92, 97, 98,

3,604,559 9/1971 McCall ..206/42 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky AttorneyRichard S. Shreve, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A dispenser for pills and/or capsules adapted to cooperate with a container having pills and/or capsules therein. First and second horizontal disc like members detachably engage each other and support the container in a vertical position as it extends through central openings in both members. The members each have two concentric annular sectors having respective lower and upper mating recesses which [56} References Cied together define enclosed chambers for detachably UNITED STATES PATENTS receiving pills and/or capsules. 3,596,629 8/1971 English ..1 16/121 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Our invention is a dispenser adapted to cooperate with a hollow vertical cylindrical container with a removable cap and containing pills and/or capsules. A first lower member has a central bottom section adapted to receive and support the bottom of the container, a first top annular sector extending outward horizontally from the section and a stepped down second bottom annular sector extending outward from the first sector. Each .sector has 12 spaced downwardly extending recesses designating the 12 different hours of a half day period, one sector being A.M., the other sector being P.M. A second lower member has a central opening through which the container extends as well as first and second annular sectors detachably engageable with the corresponding sectors of the first member. The second member sectors have like recesses which extend upward and mate with corresponding downward sectors to define enclosed chambers for detachably receiving pills or capsules.

It is preferred that the dispenser be fabricated from a thin, clear and transparent plastic material or the like to enable the user to have a full view of the pill or capsule which is safely intact between the two members. It is further preferred the the A.M.-P.M. letterings and figures be embossed in the lower recesses of the bottom disc only.

Thus, a patient has a full view of timely scheduled medications for a full 24 hour day with an indication of which pill or capsule is to be taken and when.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of a portion of our invention with members joined detachably;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a lift tab used in our invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of'our invention with the members of FIG. 2 separated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, an elongated plastic hollow vertical bottle containing pills and/or capsules has a removable plastic cap 12.

A lower disc-like plastic member 28 has a central hollow bottom section 14 in which the bottom of bottled 10 is disposed. A first horizontal annular sector 16 integral with and extending away from the top of the section 14 has 12 equidistantly disposed radially extending lower recesses 18. Each recess can have a central circular portion 20 adapted to receive a pill and an elongated end portion 22 adapted to receive a capsule. Each recess can have labelling with embossed lettering and figures giving a different hour of the day and indicating the portion of the day, either A.M. or P.M. The flat region about the top of the recess can have a circular crease 24. A second outer annular sector 26 is disposed below sector 16, being connected thereto by vertical cylinder wall 28. Sector 26 also has like recesses labelled in like manner.

An upper disc-like member 30 overlies member 28: and detachably engages same by outer circular recess 32 engaging outer lip 34 of member 28. Member 30 has like sectors 16' and 26' differing only from the lower sectors in that the recesses 18 extend upward so that pills or capsules can be completely enclosed and held in position. When fingers are placed on cap 12 and tab 36 on member 30 is lifted, the members can be separated to allow removal of the pill or capsule desired. Typically, sector 16 can carry the 12 A.M. hours while sector 26 can carry the 12 P.M. hours. Both members can be labelled as shown.

Thus, the patient always has full view of timely scheduled pills or capsules at all times. At any time at a glance a patient is instantly, vividly and completely informed from the beginning to the end of the day.

While we have described our invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

1. A dispenser for pills and/or capsules adapted to cooperate with a hollow vertical cylindrical container containing pills and/or capsules and surmounted by a top removable cap, said dispenser comprising:

a first lower member having a central bottom section adapted to receive the bottom of the container, a top horizontal annular sector extending outward from the section and having a plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending lower recesses, a vertical cylindrical wall dropping downward from the outer periphery of the top sector and a bottom horizontal annular sector extending outward from the wall, said bottom sector having a like plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending lower recesses; and

a second upper member having a central opening through which the container extends, said second member having a top horizontal annular sector with a like plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending upper recesses and a bottom horizontal annular sector with a like plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending upper recesses, said second member detachably engaging the first member with their respective sectors in abutting relationship, each upper recess being engaged to a corresponding lower recess to form an enclosed chamber for detachably receiving a pill or capsule.

2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein each recess has a central circular portion adapted to receive a pill and an elongated ends portion adapted to receive a capsule.

3. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality is equal to 12.

4. A dispenser as set forth in claim 3 wherein each recess is labelled with a different hour in a 12 hour period.

5. A dispenser as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of the sector pairs designates an A.M. period and the other of the sector pairs designates a P.M. period.

6. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first lower member and the second upper member are thin, clear and transparent plastic discs, 21 daily does of timely scheduled pills or capsule being safely intact therebetween. 

1. A dispenser for pills and/or capsules adapted to cooperate with a hollow vertical cylindrical container containing pills and/or capsules and surmounted by a top removable cap, said dispenser comprising: a first lower member having a central bottom section adapted to receive the bottom of the container, a top horizontal annular sector extending outward from the section and having a plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending lower recesses, a vertical cylindrical wall dropping downward from the outer periphery of the top sector and a bottom horizontal annular sector extending outward from the wall, said bottom sector having a like plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending lower recesses; and a second upper member having a central opening through which the container extends, said second member having a top horizontal annular sector with a like plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending upper recesses and a bottom horizontal annular sector with a like plurality of equidistantly disposed radially extending upper recesses, said second member detachably engaging the first member with their respective sectors in abutting relationship, each upper recess being engaged to a corresponding lower recess to form an enclosed chamber for detachably receiving a pill or capsule.
 2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein each recess has a central circular portion adapted to receive a pill and an elongated ends portion adapted to receive a capsule.
 3. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality is equal to
 12. 4. A dispenser as set forth in claim 3 wherein each recess is labelled with a different hour in a 12 hour period.
 5. A dispenser as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of the sector pairs designates an A.M. period and the other of the sector pairs designates a P.M. period.
 6. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first lower member and the second upper member are thin, clear and transparent plastic discs, a daily does of timely scheduled pills or capsule being safely intact therebetween. 